Planimeter.



No. 700,732. Patented May 27, I902.

B. W. BRYAN.

PLANIMET EB. 7 (Application filed Oct, 8, 1901.)

(No Mo eL) 5 sheets-Sheet I.

' m: NORms PEYERS c0.. woropma. msmuwamu cv No. 700,732. Patented May 27, I902.

w B. W. BRYAN.

PLANIMETEB.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1901.) (No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 2.

nonms min: co.. IMOYQLITHO. wunmuron. o. c,

No. 700,732. Patented May 27, I902.

' B. W. BRYAN.

PLANIMETER.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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NH. 700,732. P a tented May 27, I902.

B.'W. BRYAN.

PLANIMETER. "A uc u n filed Oct. 8, 19o1.1

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

, (No Model.)

No. 700,732. Patented May 27, I902.

B. W. BRYAN.

PLANIMETER.

(Application filqd Oct. 8, 1901.) (No Model.) 5 Sheats-Sheet 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD \VILLIAM BRYAN, OF BUCKHURST HILL, ENGLAND.

PLANIMETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,732, dated May 2'7, 1902.

Application filed October 8, 1901. Serial No. 78,028. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BERNARD WILLIAM BRYAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Buckhurst Hill, in the county of Essex,England,'have invented Improvements in Planimeters, of which the following is a specification.

Planimeters such as heretofore usually employed will not integrate correctly when the values of the ordinates of the curve, diagram, or other figure to be computed are not proportional to their height or lengththat isto say, when the scale of the diagram varies at diiferent parts thereof.

Now this invention has for its object to obviate this serious disadvantage and to provide a planimeter that will directly calculate in a practically accurate manner totals and averages from an unequally-divided curve, diagram, or other figure recording any given result. For this purpose in a planimeter according to this invention the frame or holder that is moved by the tracing-arm of the instrument and in which the counting-wheel and index-roller are mounted to revolve instead of being fixed to the tracing-arm, as heretofore, is connected to the said arm in such a way that it can turn relatively thereto, and in conjunction with such frame or holder there is provided means adapted to control its movements, and consequently those of the counting-wheel and index-roller, in such a way as to correct or compensate for any want of uniformity in the scale of difierout parts of the curve, diagram, or other figure (hereinafter called a diagram) to be computed, so that the instrument shall give a direct and correct integration of the diagram notwithstanding such want of uniformity of scale. The controlling means may conveniently be in the form of a cam, the shape of which is dependent upon the nature of the variable scale of the diagram to be computed.

The invention is applicable to planimeters of various types for computing diagrams of various kinds.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a cross-section corresponding to the line III of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a cross-section corresponding to the line IV of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 an elevation, of the planimeter removed said base piece 1Q.

fromthe board with its parts in a position differing from that of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan of an instrument of somewhat-modified construction and applied to aboard for carrying the record-sheet. Fig. 7 is afront elevation, Fig. 8 a cross-section corresponding to the line VIII of Fig. 6, and Fig. Jan elevation, of the planimeter with its'parts in a position dif- 6o fering from that of Fig. 6.

According tothe construction of planimeter which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 and which is specially'designed for computing from rate-of-flow diagrams the quantity of liquid passed in any given time through meters, such as Deacons meters, and orifices, over weirs, 850, but capable also of computing totals and averages from other diagrams representing various records and each drawn to a varying scale, the tracing-arm 1,: carrying at .one endthe tracing handle and'point, isjointed at its other end to a longitudinally-movable frame or carrier 2 in such a manner as to turn about a vertical axis, Forthis purpose the pivoted end of the tracing-arm 1 is bifurcated and is mount ed to turn about a vertical pin 3, that is fixed in a support 4 on the frame or carrier 2. The frame or carrier 2 is provided, as shown, with vertical and horizontal flanged rollers 6 and 7, mounted in suitable bearings and arranged to run, respectively, on and against lower and upper longitudinal guide-rails 8 and 9,.that are secured, respectively, upon a longitudinal base-piece lOand to one side of a raised table or platform 11, fixed upon the To the bifurcated end of thetracing-arm 1 is pivoted, so as to turn about a horizontal axis,'one end of another arm 5, hereinafter called, for distinction, the planimeter-arm, which is arranged at a fixed angle, usually an obtuse angle, to thetracing-arm 1 and extends backward over the top of the table or platform 11. For piv- 5 oting the two arms 1 and 5 together the bifurcated end of the tracing-arm 1 is provided I with an upper vertical-extension 1, carrying two horizontal pivot-pins 12 and 13, which are suitably arranged one above the other, and on one or other of which pins the adjacent end of the planimeter-arm 5, which is bifurcated, is mounted, according as the instrument is to be used for computing the 1 quantity of water that has passed through a meter or over a weir. To the other end of the planimeter-arm 5 is jointed, by meansof a vertical pin 14, so as to turn about a verti cal axis; one end of a vertical frame or holder 15, in which is mounted in the usual manner an ordinary index-roller 16, fixed to a horizontal spindle 17, that drives, through wormgearing 18, a vertical spindle 19, carrying an ordinary counting-wheel 20. The frame 15 is also provided, as usual, with a fixed vernier16 adjacent to the index-roller 16 and with a fixed line or indicator adjacent to the counting-wheel 20 and is so arranged that the index-roller 16 will travel over the top of the table or platform 11, which is preferably covered with material, such as hard dull cardboard or paper, for the index-roller 16 to work upon. The traveling frame or carrier 2 has a'lateral extension 2l,'that overhangs the table or platform 11 and to which a horizontal plate 22 is detachably fixedby means of screws 23, which pass through the plate and the lateral extension and are secured by clamping-nuts 23. on its under surface with a cam-groove, with which engages a vertical pin 24, that is carried by the pivoted frame or holder 15. The cam-plate 22 and'the pin 24 are kept in engagement with each other and the roller 7 kept in contact with the rail 9, and thereby the index-roller 16 in proper contact with the table or platform 11, by means, respectively, of a s pring 26, that encircles the pin 24, and ofa weight 25, that is suspended from the lateral extension 21. The cam-groove in the cam-plate 22 is shaped so as to suit the varying scale of the diagram to be computed, and the cam-plate 22 is suitably set to causethe groove therein to control the'movements of the pivoted frame or holder 15 in the required manner. The cam-plate '22 may be ametal stripset at an angle, as shown, to the longitudinal direction of the base-board 10, the cam-groove extending generallyin the direction of the length of the strip.

According to the construction of planimeter illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 the tracing-arm 1 of the apparatus is telescopic and comprises a hollow or tubular portion 1", within which telescopes another portion 1, carrying at its outer'end the tracing handle and point. The length of the tracing-arm 1 can therefore be made greater or less in order to suit diagrams of various sizes. The other end of the tracing-arm 1 is bifurcated, as in thepreviously- This plate 22 is formed mounted on a horizontal pin 12, that is also secured to the vertical pin 4. The frame or carrier 2 is provided with vertical wheels 6 and 7., mounted in bearings 6 and 7 and arranged to rum-respectively, on a longitudinal guide-rail 8, secured upon the longitudinal base-piece 10, and on an extension 10 of the base 10, at the rear of the raised table or platform 11.

In the example now being described the horizontal cam-plate 22 is not provided with a cam-groove on its under surface, as in the example hereinbefore described; but its outer edge is formed as a cam-surface, with which an antifriction-roller 24, carried by the pin 24, is held in contact by means of the spring 26, one end of which is secured to the planimeter-arm'5 by a clamping-nut 26, while the other end bears against a slide-block on the frame or holder 15. The outer end of I the tubular or hollow portion l of the tracing-arm 1 has secured to it a clip 29, while on the portion 1' there is a clip 30, that is movable longitudinally thereof and is secured in position by means of a clamping-screw 31. These two clips 29 and 30 are connected together by means of a screw 32,-having a fine thread and carrying a milled nut33, kept in position by means oftwo projections34 on I the clip 29. r

When it is desired to alter the length of the tracing-arm 1, the clamping-screw 31 of the clip 30 is unscrewed, so as to loosen'the grip of the'clip on'the portion 1, which portion is then pushed into or pulled out of the portion 1 until the tracing-arm is approximately of the desired length. The clip 30 is then clamped to the portion 1 and the total length of the tracing-arm 1 accurately adjusted by means of the screw 32 and milled IIO the apparatus from movement when out of 31 use. To aid in this object, the frame or carrier'2 also carries a stop 28, that is pivoted thereto at 28, and upon which the tracingarm 1 can be placed.

To enable arecord-sheet A with a diagram thereon to have its zero-line accurately adjusted to the zero position of the tracingpoint,the base-board 10 has preferably monnted on it, as shown, a board 50, which can be adjusted on the board 10 bymeans of a screw 51 and isguided by pieces 52, one ofwhich is furnished with a' clamp 58 for securing the board 50 in any desired position. To enable and the board 50, the longitudinal strip be ing held down on the record-sheet by means of the spring-plates 55 and the record-sheet maintained stationary by the pins, which pierce the paper, when the lifting device is released and the longitudinal strip 56 pressed down by the spring-pressure. The diameter of the index-roller and the scale thereon are adapted to suit the diagram to be integrated. Thus in the case of a meter diagram, where nineteen inches equal the length of the diagram for a maximum flow of forty-five thousand gallons per hour for twenty-four hours, corresponding to a total flow of one million eighty thousand gallons, if it be required that one revolution'of the roller shall register one hundred thousand gallons the roller must revolve 10.80 times in nineteen inches and must therefore have a circumference of 1.7592 inches. This circumference of the index-roller may be divided into one hundred parts, each of which is adapted to be subdivided by the Vernier into tenths, and the counting-wheel may be arranged to record up to ten complete revolutions of the index-roller, so that the instrument will read down to one hundred gallons and up to one million or to any number above this by marking or noting the number of complete revolutions of the countingor tens wheel.

In the case. of a weir diagram,,where ten inches equal the length of the diagram for a maximum flow of water of a depth of fourteen inches over the weir, equal to 269.55 cu.- bic feet per minute per foot width of weir, if it be required that one revolution of the index-roller shall register one hundred cubic feet the roller must make 2.6955 revolutions in ten inches and have a circumference of 3.71 inches. This circumference may be divided into one hundred parts, each of which is adapted to be subdivided by the Vernier into tenths, so that the instrument is adapted to read down to 0.1 cubic foot per minute per foot width of weir.

A differently-shaped cam groove or surface must be used for each different varying scale of diagram, and the length of the tracing, arm when a telescopic arm is employed must be adjusted for each cam employed. The shape of the cam groove or surface required for any given diagram-scale may be ascertained as follows: A record-sheet is secured in position on the board, and the tracing point is placed on oneof the horizontal lines of the sheet and drawn therealong from end to end of the sheet, and a stylus, substituted for the pin that bears on the cam-surface or engages in the camgroove, is adjusted until the apparatus gives an indication corresponding to the horizontal line in question, when the position of the stylus is accurately recorded on a celluloid or similar sheet secured to the lateral extension of the frame or carrier 2. Similar operations are gone through in respect of a number of other horizontal lines of the record-sheet, and the points so formed indicative of the several positions of the axis of the pin are joined together by a line which gives with an accuracy dependent on the number of horizontal lines taken, the desired shape of the cam-groove or surface.

What I claim is- 1. A planimeter comprising a tracing-arm, an index-roller, and means for automatically varying the inclination of the axis of thesaid index-roller to the said tracing-arm to compensate for variation in a diagram-scale.

2. A planimeter comprising a .pivotallymounted tracing-arm, means for guiding the pivot of the said arm rectilineally, an indexroller connected to the saidtracing-arm so as to be moved partly rectilineally and partly radially therewith, and means for automatically varying the inclination of the axis of the said index-roller to the said tracing-arm to compensate for variation in a diagramscale.

3. A planimeter comprising a pivotallymounted tracing-arm, means for guiding the pivot of the said arm rectilineally, an indexroller connected to the said tracing-arm so as to be moved partly rectilineally and partly radially therewith, and a cam for varying the inclination of the axis of the said index-roller to the said tracing-arm to compensate for variation in adiagram-scale.

I 4. A planimeter comprising a pivotally- .mounted tracing-arm, means for guiding the pivot of the said arm rectilineally, anindexroller connected to the said tracing-arm so as to be moved partlyrectilineally and partly radially therewith, and a cam and a, spring for varyingthe inclination of the axis .ofthe said index-roller to the said tracing-armto compensate for variation in a diagram-scale. 5. A planimeter comprising a pivotallymounted tracing-arm, means for guiding the pivot of the said arm rectilineally, aplanimeter-arm connected to the said tracing-arm so as to move therewith about the pivotal axis thereof, a frame or holder jointed to the mounted tracing-arm,-means for guiding the.

pivot of the said arm rectilineally, a planimeter-arm connected to the saidtracing-arm so as to move therewith about the pivotal.

axis thereof, a frame or holder jointed to the said planimeter-arm, an index-roller mounted in the said frame or holder, and a cam for varying the inclination of the axis of the said index-roller to the said planimeterarm to compensate for variation in adiagrarn-scale.

7. A planimeter comprising a pivotallymounted tracing-arm, means for guiding the pivot of the said arm rectilineally, a planimeter-arm connected to the said tracing-arm so as to move therewith about the pivotal axis thereof, aframe or holder jointed to the said planimeter-arm, an index-roller mounted in the said frame or holder, and a cam and a spring for varying the inclination of the axis of the said index-roller to the said pla nimeter-arm to compensate for variation in a diagram-scale.

8. A planimeter comprising a tracing-arm,

said planimeter-arm, and wheels on which,

the said frame or carrier is and which are arranged on opposite sides thereof.

Signed at 77 Gornhill, London, England, this 25th day of September, 1901.

BERNARD WILLIAM BRYAN.

Witnesses:

PERCY E. MATTOOKS, EDMUND S. SNEWIN. 

